On Wednesday evening Ferrari asked for clarification from the FIA over an overtaking move Sebastian Vettel had appeared to make under yellow flags at the weekend. The FIA explained on Thursday that a green flag had in fact been waving before he made the move and therefore there was "no case to answer" over the incident and the move was in fact entirely legal.

"It's a shame because everything had gone so well," Ecclestone told the Daily Telegraph. "It was a super race, a super championship. Now everyone is talking about this. The problem is that no one knows what is going on."

Ecclestone said Ferrari's actions were a joke and that they should have done something on the day if they were really serious about protesting.

"In the rules and regs normally you have to protest," the 82 year-old said. "They [Ferrari] missed that time. Then there is the fact that a green flag was shown, which nobody seems to dispute. It's a complete joke. What they [Ferrari] are saying in that letter is wrong. I don't think there needs to be any action taken. It's completely and utterly wrong."

Ferrari has not actually appealed the result, just asked for clarification as to why the move was legal. Nevertheless, Ecclestone was not impressed with the Italian team.

"Personally I think it's not really like Ferrari to do this. I think they badly wanted to win. But if you want to go back and see what Ferrari have done down the years … But nothing will happen. What can they do? Take civil action? Maybe. But the case is flawed before it starts. Nothing is going to happen."

Following the Rugby Football Union's announcement on Sunday that England Sevens coach Ben Ryan is set to relinquish his role, various past, present and future England internationals have taken to Twitter to praise him